“Yeah,” he says.
But something about the way he says it, flat, almost distracted, makes me lower my phone and turn to look at him.
“You okay?” I ask softly.
He keeps his gaze on the road, but I catch the slight sigh he tries to hide. “Of course I am.”
A beat of silence.
Then, more quietly, “Just worried it still won’t be good enough to land the deal.”
Understanding hits me low and hard. It’s not just about business. It never is with Liam. He’s worried he’ll be judged for who he is. Again. That no matter how hard he works, how much he builds, it’ll never outweigh the shadow he’s been living in his whole life.
Sam Stone’s golden reputation. And more than that. The constant, cutting voice of his father.
I’ve only met Carl Stone a handful of times.
It was enough.
The man carries his disappointment around like a weapon, sharp and ready, always pointed squarely at Liam. Never mind that Liam has built Stonewater Rodeo Stock into a thriving business after Carl nearly ran it into the ground. Never mind that Liam’s loyal and hardworking and good when Carl isn’t.
It’s never enough for a man who only sees flaws where he should see pride.
My chest aches with the sudden, fierce urge to protect him. To tell him he’s already more than enough. That he always has been. Instead, I reach out without thinking and lay my hand gently over his. Just a small touch. A quiet reminder. He glances at me, his mouth curving into a small, almost shy smile.
“Even if we don’t land this deal,” I say, squeezing his hand gently, “we’ll find someone else to partner with. We always do.”
Liam glances over, his mouth tilting into a soft smile.
“You always do,” he corrects, turning his hand so his fingers lace through mine without hesitation.
My chest tightens in the best way.
“Wedo,” I correct firmly, meeting his gaze.
We share a smile that sends my stomach into a series of wild, giddy flips just as we pull into town.
The rain has eased into a misty drizzle, turning the streets slick and shiny. We park in front of Knot and Spur, the small-town general store that's also a bar, and a gossip mill all rolled into one.
As soon as we step inside, we’re met with chaos. Sherry and her husband, Buck, are full-on yelling at each other near the bar.
Liam freezes, eyebrows shooting up. He leans closer to me and mutters, “What in the heck is going on?”
I press my lips together to hide my laugh. “I’ll tell you when we leave,” I whisper back.
He grabs a shopping basket with exaggerated calm, like we’re not about to witness a domestic soap opera unraveling five feet away.
We hurry through the store, grabbing what we need. Ground beef, potatoes, spices. But no matter how fast we move, we can still hear every single word of their argument.
“Are you sleeping with her, Buck? Is that what’s going on?” Sherry yells, her voice ringing off the walls.
“Hell no,” Buck barks back. “Why would you even think that?”
“Because of the way she took off when I stormed into Lura’s this morning! If it was innocent, then why’d she take off like the hounds of hell were after her?”
Liam shoots me a look, lips parted, eyes wide, like he’s dying to know the backstory.
I mouthlateras we round into the next aisle.
